Pole Changing Method

Pole Changing Method is one of the main methods of the speed control of an induction motor. This method of controlling the speed by pole changing is used mainly for cage motor only because the cage rotor automatically develops a number of poles, which is equal to the poles of the stator winding. The number of stator poles can be changed by the following three methods. They are known as multiple stator windings, method of consequent poles and pole amplitude modulation (PAM).

The detail explanation of each pole changing method is given below.

Multiple Stator Winding

In the multiple stator winding method, two windings are provided on the stator which are wound on the two different numbers of pole. One winding is energized one at a time. Let us consider that the motor has two windings for 6 and 4 poles. For the frequency of 50 hertz, the synchronous speeds will be 1000 and 1500 revolutions per minute respectively. This method of speed control is less efficient and more costly.

Method of Consequent Pole

In the method of consequent poles, a single stator winding is divided into few coil groups. The terminals of all these groups are brought out. By simply changing the coil connections, the number of poles can be changed. In practice, the stator windings are divided only in two coil groups. The number of poles can be changed in the ratio of 2:1.

The figure below shows the single phase of a stator winding which consist of 4 coils. The coils are divided into two groups named as a-b and c-d.

Group a-b consists of an odd number of coils that is (1, 3) whereas group c-d consists of an even number of coils (2,4). The two coils are connected in series. The terminals a, b, c, d are taken out as shown in the above figure. The coils are carrying current in the given directions by connecting coil groups either in series or in parallel as shown in the figure below.

There are total four poles which are giving a speed of 1500 rpm for a 50-hertz system. If the current through the coils of group a-b is reversed as shown in the figure below. All the coils will produce north (N) poles.

The flux of the poles group should be passed through the given space between the pole group to complete the magnetic path. Thus, a magnetic pole of opposite polarity (S pole) is induced. These induced poles are known as Consequent Poles. Thus, the machine has twice as many poles as before (i.e., 8 poles), and the synchronous speed becomes half of the previous speed (i.e., 750 rpm).

The above principle can be extended to all the three phases of an induction motor. By choosing a combination of series and parallel connections between the coil groups of each phase. Also, the star or delta connections between the phase speed change can be obtained with constant torque and constant power operation or variable torque operation.

Pole amplitude modulation is a flexible method of pole changing which can be used in applications where speed ratios other than 2:1 are required. The motors designed for speed changing based on the poled amplitude modulation scheme are known as PAM motors.